'I’m a Gandhian now', declares Yasin Malik in tribunal statement
- In Reports
- 06:41 PM, Oct 05, 2024
- Myind Staff
Separatist leader Yasin Malik informed an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) tribunal that he has chosen a path of non-violence and abandoned armed struggle since 1994. Malik, who is the founder of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front-Yasin (JKLF-Y), stated in his affidavit that he now adheres to the "Gandhian way of resistance."
In his affidavit, he said, "I gave up arms, I'm a Gandhian now," as the tribunal considered the JKLF-Y ban. The JKLF-Y was the main organisation behind armed militancy in the Kashmir Valley during the 1990s. Malik clarified that his choice to give up violence was intended to advance a "united, independent Kashmir" via nonviolent means.
Under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967, the UAPA tribunal recently declared JKLF-Y an "unlawful organisation" for the ensuing five years in an order that was published in the official gazette. The ruling cast doubt on the legitimacy of the group and listed all of its connections to prominent political and government figures since 1994.
Malik is a primary suspect in the 1990 murder of four Indian Air Force personnel in Rawalpora, Srinagar. He was found guilty in a terror funding case and is currently serving a life sentence in Tihar Jail. Witnesses named Malik as the primary shooter in the case earlier this year. In May 2022, Malik was also given a life sentence in prison for financing terrorism in a case that was looked into by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
During the early 1990s, Malik said in his affidavit, he was assured by different state officials that the Kashmir dispute would be settled through "meaningful dialogue." He claimed he was assured that all accusations against him and JKLF-Y members would be dropped if he initiated a unilateral ceasefire.
However, the Centre contended that Malik continued to support and sustain terrorism in spite of giving up armed resistance in 1994 in its ban notification, which was issued on March 15, 2024. The ban notification was followed by the statements from officers involved in cases against JKLF-Y.
Comments